LABOUR FORCE


CONTENTS

Employed persons

Unemployment

Participation rate


EMPLOYED PERSONS

In trend terms, the total number of persons employed in South Australia has increased for the sixth consecutive month reaching 816,400 persons in October 2010. This represents an increase of 2.1% over the estimate recorded in October 2009 (799,400). Nationally, a total of 11,339,400 persons were employed in October 2010; an increase of 3.2% over the corresponding month of the previous year.

The number of males employed full-time in South Australia increased to 364,200 (in trend terms) in October 2010. Looking at the composition of all male employees, those working full-time accounted for 82.8% of the male workforce, up from 80.7% in October 2009. The number of females employed full-time increased for the twelfth consecutive month and was 190,700 in October 2010; 5.1% higher than the corresponding month of the previous year. At that time full-time female employees accounted for 49.2% and by October 2010 this proportion had risen to 50.6%.


UNEMPLOYMENT

South Australia's trend unemployment rate rose marginally to 5.5% in October 2010, continuing the general upward trend seen throughout 2010. The estimate remains above the national unemployment rate for the sixth consecutive month, with Australia's unemployment rate (in trend terms) remaining steady at 5.2% after falling from a peak of 5.8% in mid 2009.

From a high of 6.2% in mid 2009, the trend unemployment rate for South Australian males fell to 5.1% in January and February 2010. Since that time, the series has gradually risen with the male unemployment rate reaching 5.7% in October 2010. In contrast, the trend unemployment rate for South Australian females rose from a low of 4.9% in mid 2009 to 5.4% in March 2010. Since that time the series has fallen resulting in a rate of 5.2% in September and October 2010. The female unemployment rate remains below the male rate for the fourth consecutive month.

Nationally, the trend unemployment rates for males and females in October 2010 remained steady at 5.1% and 5.4% respectively.

PARTICIPATION RATE

Following a period of relative stability, the trend estimate of the participation rate for South Australia has risen for the last five consecutive months reaching 63.7% in October 2010. Australia's trend participation rate has followed a similar pattern over the same period and was 65.7% in October.

In South Australia, the participation rate for males has remained relatively stable over the last ten months, but rose slightly in October 2010 to 70.2%. Similarly, the Australian participation rate for males has shown little movement for more than a year but has risen slightly over recent months and was 72.7% in October. From a peak of 58.0% in April and May 2009, the participation rate for South Australian females fell to 56.7% in early 2010, but has risen gradually since then to be 57.5% in October 2010. The Australian female participation rate also rose marginally in October to 59.0%.